Argyle Cowl in Imperial Yarn Erin - F01 (Downloadable PDF)

Argyle Cowl in Imperial Yarn Erin – Pattern F01 by Tanis Gray

The Argyle Cowl in Imperial Yarn Erin (F01) is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed by Tanis Gray and published by Imperial Stock Ranch. This intermediate-level project produces a seamless, unisex cowl worked entirely in the round using a classic stranded colorwork technique. The result is a polished, reversible accessory with no visible wrong side and no seam — making it an elegant and practical addition to any handknit wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a circular cowl with finished measurements of 7 inches high by 36 inches wide before the kitchener join. The design is described as one size fits all and is intentionally unisex, making it a versatile gift option — particularly well-suited for holiday knitting. The cowl features a traditional argyle-inspired Fair Isle colorwork chart worked in two colors: #341 Chocolate as the main color (MC) and #351 Autumn Rust as the contrast color (CC).

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round – The entire cowl is worked circularly, eliminating any wrong side and creating a clean, professional finish throughout.
• Stranded Fair Isle colorwork – A traditional technique in which two colors are carried across each row, with the unused yarn floated along the back of the work. This creates a fabric with natural warmth and structure. The colorwork chart repeats five times across each row and is worked for a total of nine chart repetitions (or more, if a longer cowl is desired).
• Provisional cast-on – The cowl begins with a crochet provisional cast-on using waste yarn and a US G (4.25 mm) crochet hook. This technique holds live stitches at the cast-on edge so they can later be joined seamlessly.
• Kitchener stitch (grafting) – Once the body of the cowl is complete, the provisional cast-on is unzipped and the live stitches are placed on a second circular needle. The two ends are then joined using Kitchener stitch, creating a completely seamless, invisible join. This is one of the most refined finishing techniques in knitting and contributes significantly to the polished look of the finished cowl.
• Blocking – The pattern instructs knitters to block the finished cowl well, which is especially important for wool yarns to even out the colorwork stitches and open up the fabric to its full dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch in the round – The base stitch structure for the colorwork sections, worked by knitting every round when working circularly.
• Kitchener stitch – Used as a finishing technique to graft the two open ends of the cowl together without a seam.
• Fair Isle / stranded colorwork pattern – Worked from a two-color chart that repeats across the round to create the argyle-inspired motif.

Materials

• Yarn: Imperial Yarn Erin — a 100% Columbia wool yarn sourced from Imperial Stock Ranch, a historic ranch near Shaniko, Oregon, USA, established in 1871. Each hank weighs 113g / 4oz and contains approximately 225 yards / 206 meters. The pattern calls for 1 hank of MC (#341 Chocolate) and 1 hank of CC (#351 Autumn Rust). Note that additional yarn will be needed if extra chart repeats are added to lengthen the cowl.
• Needles: Two US Size 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needles, or the size needed to achieve the stated gauge. Two circular needles are required — one for the body of the cowl and one to hold the provisionally cast-on stitches during the Kitchener stitch join.
• Crochet Hook: US G (4.25 mm) — used exclusively for the provisional cast-on